Polymer Nanocomposites: Physical Properties and Applications

Polymer nanocomposites are polymer matrices reinforced with nano-scale fillers. This new class of composite materials has shown improved mechanical and physical properties, including optical, electrical and dielectric. This essential volume begins by examining the characteristics of the main types of polymer nanocomposites; it then reviews their diverse applications. Part One focuses on polymer/nanoparticle composites, their synthesis, optical properties and electrical conductivity. Part Two describes the electrical, dielectric and thermal behaviour of polymer/nanoplatelet composites. Polymer/nanotube composites are the subject of Part Three. Part Four describes the processing and industrial applications of these nanocomposite materials, including uses in fuel cells, bioimaging, and sensors. It also explores the manufacture and applications of electrospun polymer nanocomposite fibers, nanostructured transition metal oxides, clay nanofiller/epoxy nanocomposites, hybrid epoxy-silica-rubber nanocomposites, and other rubber-based nanocomposites. Polymer nanocomposites: Physical properties and applications is a valuable reference tool for both the research community and industry professionals wanting to learn about these materials and their applications in such areas as fuel cell, sensor and biomedical technology.

Table of Contents:
PART 1: POLYMER/NANOPARTICLE COMPOSITES Synthesis and optical properties of cadmium sulfide/polymer nanocomposite particles X Cheng, S C Tjong and R K Y Li, City University of Hong Kong, PR China Introduction. Synthesis of cadmium sulfide (CdS)/polymer composite nanoparticles. Optical properties of CdS/polymer nano-composite particles. Conclusions and future trends. References. Conductivity and dielectric characterization of polymer nanocomposites G C Psarras, University of Patras, Hellas, Greece Introduction. Types and characteristics of electrically important polymer nanocomposites. Experimental techniques and data analysis. Dielectric relaxations. Dielectric relaxation dynamics. Conductivity. Conclusions and future trends. Acknowledgements. References. Electrical behavior of particle-filled polymer nanocomposites R C Smith, J K Nelson and L S Schadler, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, USA Introduction. Structure and morphology of polymer nanocomposites. Experimental studies of nanocomposite electrical mechanisms. Future trends for nanodielectrics. Additional sources of nanodielectric information. References. Optical properties of ferroelectric nanocrystal/polymer composites A-D Li and W-C Liu, Nanjing University, PR China Introduction. Fabrication methods of ferroelectric nanocrystal/polymer composites. Poling techniques of ferroelectric nanocrystal/polymer composites. Optical properties of ferroelectric nanocrystal/polymer composites. Conclusions and future trends. Sources of further information and advice. Acknowledgements. References. Transparent and light emitting ZnO/epoxy nanocomposites S-Y Fu, Chinese Academy of Sciences, PR China Introduction. Transmittance. UV shielding efficiency. Photo-stability. Photoluminescence. Conclusions and future trends. Acknowledgements. References. Polyaniline-based nanocomposites: preparation, properties and applications K-P Lee, A Gopalan, S Komathi and D Raghupathy, Kyungpook National University, South Korea Introduction. Polyaniline (PANI). Preparation of PANI based nanocomposites. Properties of PANI based nanocomposites. Applications of PANI-NCs. Conclusions. References. PART 2: POLYMER/NANOPLATELET COMPOSITES Dielectric relaxation in polymer-clay nanocomposites P Pissis, S Kripotou and A Kyritsis, National Technical University of Athens, Greece Introduction. Dielectric techniques for polymer dynamics studies. Poly (propylene oxide) amines intercalated in clay. Polyurethane/clay nanocomposites. Epoxy resin/clay nanocomposites. Polycyanurate/clay nanocomposites. Conclusion and future trends. References. Crystallization behavior of semicrystalline polymer-clay nanocomposites S P Bao and S C Tjong, City University of Hong Kong and C Y Tang, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, PR China Introduction. Dispersion of nanoclays in polymers. Polymorphic structures. Spherulite morphology. Infrared spectra analysis. Crystallinity. Conclusions and future trends. References. Synthesis and electrical conducting behavior of graphite nanoplatelet (GNP)/polymer nanocomposites Y Geng, J Li and J K Kim, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, PR China Introduction. Graphite nanoplatelet (GNP). Synthesis of graphite nanoplatelet/polymer nanocomposites. Electrical conducting behaviour of graphite nanoplatelet/polymer nanocomposites. Theoretical analysis of percolation threshold. Conclusions and future trends. Acknowledgements. References. Flame retardancy of polymer-clay nanocomposites A Dasari, Madrid Institute for Advanced Studies of Materials (IMDEA Materials), Spain, G-P Cai and Y-W Mai, The University of Sydney, Australia, Z-Z Yu, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, PR China Introduction. Fundamentals of fire retardancy in polymers. Fire retardancy behavior of polymer nanocomposites. Different issues to consider. Conclusions and future trends. Acknowledgements. References. Polymer nanocomposites reinforced with carbonaceous nanofillers and their piezoresistive behavior P Chen and S-C Wong, University of Akron, USA Introduction to piezoresistive behaviour. Carbonaceous nanofillers in polymers. Piezoresistivity. Conclusions. Acknowledgements. References. Modeling permeability behavior of polymer nanocomposites C Lu, Curtin University of Technology and Y-W Mai, The University of Sydney Sydney, Australia Introduction. Tortuosity-based models. Aspect ratio-controlled percolation. Critical volume fractions. Critical exponents near percolation threshold. Conclusions and future trends. Acknowledgements. References. Environmental stability and flammability of polyolefin/layered silicate nanocomposites M Yang, S Zhang, H Qin, Chinese Academy of Sciences, PR China Introduction. Experimental and characterization. The UV aging behaviour of PE/clay and PP/clay nanocomposites. The thermal degradation and thermal-oxidative degradation of PP/clay. Flame retardant mechanism of polymer/layered silicate nanocomposites based on polypropylene. Conclusions. References. PART 3: POLYMER/NANOTUBE COMPOSITES Electrical and dielectric behavior of carbon nanotube-filled polymer composites S C Tjong, City University of Hong Kong, PR China Introduction. Dispersion of carbon nanotubes. Fabrication of carbon nanotube-polymer nanocomposites. Electrical characteristics. Conclusions and future trends. References. Morphology and thermal behavior of polymer/carbon nanotube composites T X Liu and S Huang, Fudan University, PR China Introduction. Morphology of polymer/carbon nanotube composites. Crystallization behavior and morphology. Thermal conductivity. Thermal stability and flammability. Conclusions and future trends. Acknowledgements. References. Polymer/carbon nanotube composites for electromagnetic interference reduction J-M Thomassin, R Jérôme and C Detrembleur, University of Liège, I Molenberg and I Huynen, Université Catholique de Louvain, Belgium Introduction. Experimental part. Results and discussion. Conclusions. Acknowledgements. References. PART 4: APPLICATIONS Electrical, mechanical and thermal properties of high performance polymer nanocomposite bipolar plates for fuel cells C-C M Ma, M-C Hsiao, S-H Liao, M-Y Yen, C-C Teng and M-H Hsiao, National Tsing Hua University, Taiwan Introduction. Polymer resin. Nano fillers. Properties of carbon nanotube reinforced polymer nanocomposite bipolar plates. Conclusions. References. Electrospun polymer nanocomposite fibers: fabrication and physical properties W E Teo, S Kaur, R Seeram, National University of Singapore, Singapore Introduction. Composite nanofibers. Surface functionalized nanofibers. Nanofibrous assembly. Nanofibers as composite reinforcements. Nanofibers in thin film nanocomposites. Hierarchically organized nanofibrous composites. Conclusions and future trends. References. Polymeric/inorganic nanocomposites: fabrication and applications in multiple bioimaging Y Lu, S-H Yu, University of Science and Technology of China, PR China Introduction. Components of polymeric/inorganic nanocomposites for bioimaging. Roles of components of hybrid nanocomposite. Polymeric components. Inorganic components. Synthetic methodology of polymeric/inorganic nanocomposites. Nanocomposite contrast agents for bioimaging technology. Conclusions and future trends. Acknowledgements. References. Gas sensing conductive polymer nanocomposites filled with carbon black nanoparticles W Zeng, S G Chen, B Zhao, M Z Rong and M Q Zhang, Zhongshan University, PR China Introduction. Gas sensitivity. Modeling. Molecular discrimination. Conclusions. Acknowledgements. References. Nano-structured transition metal oxides and their applications in composites W Gao and Z Li, The University of Auckland, New Zealand Introduction. Synthesis and nanostructure of ZnO thin films. Photoluminescence. Conclusions and future trends. Acknowledgements. References. Physical properties and applications of clay nanofiller/epoxy nanocomposites B T Marouf and R Bagheri, Sharif University of Technology, Iran Introduction. α-Relaxation behaviour. Barrier behaviour. Applications. References. Fracture behavior of hybrid epoxy-silica-rubber nanocomposites (HESRNs) R A Pearson and Y L Liang, Lehigh University, USA Introduction. Brief review of CTBN-toughened epoxies. Brief review of glass bead-toughened epoxies. Brief review of hybrid, CTBN/glass bead-toughened epoxies. Brief review of epoxy-silica nanocomposites. Hybrid epoxy-silica-rubber nanocomposites. Future trends in hybrid epoxy-silica-rubber nanocomposites. References. Physical properties of rubber-based nanocomposites Y-L Lu and L-Q Zhang, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, PR China Introduction. Nano particle-reinforced rubber nanocomposites. Nano platelet-reinforced rubber nanocomposites. Nano tube/fibril reinforced rubber nanocomposites. Conclusions and future trends. Acknowledgements. References. Carbon nanotube nanocomposites for biomedical actuators X-L Xie and F-P Du, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, PR China and Y-W Mai, University of Sydney, Australia Introduction. Ionic polymer metal composites (IPMC) actuators modified by carbon nanotubes (CNTs). CNT actuators. Actuators based on ionic liquid as electrolyte. Summary and conclusions. Acknowledgements. References. Nonlinear current-voltage characteristics in polymer nanocomposites Y C Li and S C Tjong, City University of Hong Kong, PR China Introduction. Nonlinear direct current (DC) response. Theoretical modeling and nonlinear conducting mechanism. Voltage-current characteristics of polymer nanocomposites. Applications. Conclusions and future trends. References.

About the Author :
Dr. Sie Chin Tjong is Professor of Physics and Materials at the City University of Hong Kong. Dr. Yu-Wing Mai is Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Director of the Centre for Advanced Materials Technology at the University of Sydney, Australia.